Lotsa grease coming out of left Birf...

[MissouriLC]

I searched, and I couldn't find a thread specifically addressing this, so I apologize if this is an obvious one (but I'm new to this solid axle thing).

Getting tires replaces this morning, and I notices A LOT of grease has come out of my left Birf/steering knuckle:

As you can see, it is all over the brake caliper bracket, steering arm, and the inside of the front mudflap.

There's some on the right side as well (pic below), but its old and dirt-caked (vs the fresh stuff on the left side):

I am assuming this is not normal. From what I read, if the oil seal is bad, the gear oil will leak into the Birfield and out the felt/wipe. Likewise, I understand if the CVs are overfilled during overhaul, the excess will be forced out. Is that what I'm looking at? It doesn't seem oily, and it doesn't have the sulfurous smell of gear oil. It just smells like moly grease. Does this look like bad felts/wipers? I know that the truck had some sort of front axle service about a year ago. I DO NOT know, conclusively, if the Birfs and hubs were overhauled. Looks like that might be in my future...

I guess the next step is to clean it up and then monitor to see if keeps leaking, or if it looks to be leaking gear oil. Just wanted to get the opinions of the more experienced Mudders, since this whole Birfield thing is new to me. Thanks!

 

[Brindleboxer]

You have a knuckle rebuild in your near future. What you were thinking is probably on track. If you cannot fix soon or as you stated are going to clean it up and watch it, make sure to watch the fluid in your pumpkin to ensure you don't run dry and then ruin the gears.

OTRAAM is the video I like best and has a really good video on the knuckle rebuild process and I suggest watching that so you know what will be entailed whether you do it yourself or not. ()

Another video is by a member here @rmgarage ()

 

[John McVicker]

@MissouriLC you need to do this. It’s not hard or difficult but it’s time consuming.

Get your parts from one of MUD’s outfitters, follow along with some YouTube videos & you will be good. The 1st one in post 2 is a good one.

 

[Fj80oregon]

@cruiseroutfit will set you up with the correct parts!

 

[MissouriLC]

You have a knuckle rebuild in your near future. What you were thinking is probably on track. If you cannot fix soon or as you stated are going to clean it up and watch it, make sure to watch the fluid in your pumpkin to ensure you don't run dry and then ruin the gears.

OTRAAM is the video I like best and has a really good video on the knuckle rebuild process and I suggest watching that so you know what will be entailed whether you do it yourself or not. ()

Another video is by a member here @rmgarage ()

I love that OTRAMM video. I first watched that 7 years ago when I serviced the wheel bearings on my Hundy (since the wheel bearings/drive flange is basically the same, and that is the best video on the subject IMO).

Looks like I'll be tackling this on the 80 soon.

Another question... is it customary to replace the Birfs and drive flanges as he did? As in, are they often worn enough that the splines have a lot of play?

The CV axles on my Hundy were very worn in that way, such that I had an audible clunk from the front end when shifting from reverse to drive (or vice versa). However, no such clunk on the 80.

 

[Brindleboxer]

I would say if the 80 isn't your primary vehicle don't sweat getting all the hard parts right away. Take it apart and determine what needs replacing. Do a search, not on mud, for other axle service posts and you will see many ideas and creative ways to deal with minor wear (e.g., swapping axles side to side, setting the bearing slightly further in if there is wear, etc.).

It was suggested earlier to go through a vendor on this site and I would concur (I like @cruiseroutfit myself and Kurt or his people will take care of you and assembly a kit of what you need). They are who I got my last rebuild kit through, ease process and you give them some basic information and then they can give so suggestions for options.

I would watch the video with a pen and paper and log what tools are needed, the process and anything that you feel you need for reference prior to starting. Torque values are essential so get those (download the free manual from the resources section as well). Make sure to have the hub socket as it is not commonly carried in some smaller towns/areas.

As John said you can do this but it is messy if done right. Let us know how it goes and post questions if you have them.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Right of passage for a cruiser owner. Send it, we are here to help! Any cruiser friends near by? Offer them a trip to Ted Drew’s frozen concretes. Loved that place in San Louis.

 

[ChaseTruck]

None of the answers above are wrong, and yes, we’ve all done knuckle rebuilds, or had them done.

Before going down that road though, I suggest to (i) check via the inspection port that the knuckle is not overfilled with grease (I’ve done that…), (ii) make sure the axle breather is not clogged, and (iii) clean everything on the outside. Get all the gunk off the knuckle/axle. Then drive it until the knuckle rebuilds parts come in, and keep an eye on what’s going on down there.